THE PERFECT STATE OF TRICHOPHYTON-VIOLACEUM

Background. Trichophyton violaceum is the most common etiologic agent causing dermatophytosis in Egypt. This report deals with attempts to produce the perfect state of T. violaceum that may play a role in the epidemiology of T. violaceum. Materials and Methods. Ten strains of T. violaceum were inoculated on hair soil culture and on rice agar media. Results. Cultures on hair soil media failed to produce the ascogenous form of the fungus, but after 6 weeks of culture on rice agar media, fertile cleistothecium were seen and 2 weeks later separate asci appeared. Conclusion. This is the first report on the production of the perfect (sexual) state of T. violaceum. Details of the ascogenous form of this dermatophyte should be studied in the future.